Political Science 1100, Introduction to American Politics, August 22, 2007

What were the Founders Thinking?

1. What is a Constitution?

    Key choices:  Who makes the laws? (legislative power)

                          Who puts the laws into effet and enforces them? (executive power)

                          Who settles disputes over the laws? (judicial power)

                          What is government not permitted to do to its citizens? (civil liberties)

2. Who wrote the Constitution and why?

    Who was James Madison?

3. Madison's Diagnosis of the American crisis of 1787

a. The United States was surrounded by potentially hostile powers
 

• Britain
• France
• Spain
• the Barbary Pirates

 
b. Problems among the states  
 

• The States often refuse to cooperate
   

 

c. Problems within some states
 

• Rhode Island's farmers and the state's currency
  
  
   
• Shay's Rebellion in Massachusetts
  
   

d. A Weak National Government: The Articles of Confederation


 

4. Madison's Central Dilemma

He wanted a government that citizens would control,
and that could build a strong nation BUT

How do you give a majority of citizens control and of the government and
still make sure that the government makes good laws and
protects basic rights?

5. Madison's Proposed Cure

Virginia's Plan to Reconstitute the National Government

• A Very Strong National Government
  
   
• Separate Branches To Make Laws, Execute Laws And Judge Disputes
   

• A National Veto of State Laws
  
   
• A House of Representatives elected by the People, and a Senate chosen by the House
  
   
   
• Representation in both houses of Congress based on the size of population

6. The Constitution: A Political Compromise

   

    The Constitution was written by politicians for politicians to use.

• Connecticut's Roger Sherman - Madison's main antagonist
   

• The New Jersey Plan
   

• Connecticut's Compromise
   

7. How was the Constitution designed to work?

A. New National Powers to Fix the Immediate Problems that Threatened all the States
 

1) Congress (Article I, Section 8) can

B. Solving Madison's dilemma:
    
 

1) Apply republican Principles
 

• Citizen elect the directly elect the House of Representatives

 
• Separate National Government Powers
   

2) Separate national powers
     to make laws, to execute laws, and to judge disputes about the law.

 

 

3) Give the States Power to influence national policy
 
 

• Representation in the House is based on the states
  
   
• Each state has 2 Senators who represent the entire state 
  
   
• States choose electors who vote for president
  
   
• Amendments to the Constitution must be approved by 3/4 of the States

 

4) Make Each Branch Accountable To
    Different Constituents for Different Periods

• House Of Representatives:

Directly elected by voters / Two Year Terms
 
• Senate:
  (originally) elected by State Legislatures
  / Six Year Terms
 
• President:
  election by an "Electoral College"
/ Four Year term
 
• Federal Judges:
  Appointed by the president, approved by the Senate /
  Term: "good behavior" (as long as they like)
   
• Ambassadors, Top Administrators:

appointed by the president, approved by the Senate
 

5) Impeachment of Judges and Presidents

The House can "impeach," (or indict) the president and other leaders,

and the Senate then Holds a Trial
 

6) In 1791, the Bill Of Rights Limited Central Government Power

 

 

8. So How did the Constitution try to solve Madison's dilemma?

    It created a potentially strong government, but made it very hard to actually use it effectively